Planetary gear with bead stop

ABSTRACT

The geared window shade bracket comprises a sprocket having a ring gear on an inside circumference of the sprocket; a chain configured to be engaged with the sprocket such that, in response to pulling on the chain, the sprocket rotates; a sun gear that is configured to be restricted from rotation; one or more planet gears configured to rotate around the sun gear, wherein the one or more planet gears interface with the ring gear; and a planetary carrier configured to mate with the one or more planet gears. In response to the chain being pulled, the sprocket rotates, causing the planet gears to rotate, causing the planetary carrier to rotate, causing the hub to rotate, and causing a shade tube to rotate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, claims priority to and thebenefit of, U.S. Ser. No. 15/483,668 filed Apr. 10, 2017 and entitled“GEARED BRACKET FOR A WINDOW SHADE,” which is hereby incorporated hereinin its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to window shade systems, and moreparticularly, to a geared bracket that supports and controls a windowshade.

BACKGROUND

A window shade system includes a window shade (e.g., roller shade) thatis typically wound around a shade tube. The shade tube is typicallymounted to a bracket on each end. The bracket usually includesmechanical components and a chain to enable the shade tube to berotated. The rotation of the shade tube via the chain raises and lowersthe roller shade. The brackets are mounted to a wall or other structure.The window shade system may include brackets mounted in a window pocket,overhead, ceiling mounting, jamb mounting, top-down mounting, slopedmounting, horizontal mounting or skylight mounting. The window shadesystem may also be controlled with a motor, wherein the motor receivesinstructions from a switch or software.

The typical bracket includes a looped chain that rotates through asprocket within the bracket. The looped chain may hang down any length.The window shade industry often prefers that the bottom of the loopedchain hangs down to near the bottom of the window shade (e.g., 4 inchesfrom the window sill). If the system is configured such that thesprocket is the same diameter as the shade tube, the ratio of turnsbetween the sprocket and the tube is typically 1:1. If each turn of thesprocket lowers the shade 1 foot, then a 10 foot diameter loop of achain is often used with a 10 foot long window shade. Therefore, a chainlength of about 20 feet is needed in order to lower a 10 foot windowshade because only about half (i.e., about 10 feet) of the chain rotatesthrough the sprocket. In other words, only the chain length from thesprocket and down to the bottom of the chain loop is used. As shown inFIG. 1, only the chain length from point A to point B (only about halfthe chain) is used to fully lower and fully raise the window shade.

Such window shade brackets may include a bead stop, wherein the beadstop is bigger than the other chain elements. The bead stop is alsobigger than the opening in the bracket, such that the bead stop cannotenter the bracket and cannot rotate around the sprocket. Therefore, thebead stop prevents a user from pulling on the chain beyond the pointwhere the chain fully raises or fully lowers the window shade. The beadstop may be set in place at a specific location along the chain suchthat the bead stops create upper and lower limits for pulling the chainand rotating the shade tube (and thus, raising or lowering the shade tothe appropriate position). Bead stops have been used on window shadesystems for decades, so consumers are very familiar with bead stops, andconsumers have come to expect a bead stop to control their use of thebracket chain. As such, it is very important for window shade systemmanufacturers to include the bead stops on the bracket systems to givethe consumer the same experience as in the past.

A bracket may also include gears which may reduce the force needed torotate the chain. A geared bracket also includes a looped chain thatrotates through a sprocket within the bracket, but the ratio of turnsbetween the sprocket and the tube may be different than 1:1. Forexample, in a planetary gear system, when the ratio of turns between thesprocket and the tube is 3:1, the force needed to pull the chain in ageared bracket is ⅓ of a non-geared bracket. However, the chain must bepulled more times to fully open or close the shade. In this example, ittakes 3 turns of the sprocket to lower the shade 1 foot, so it takes 30turns of the sprocket to lower the 10 foot window shade. As such, with achain length of 20 feet (10 feet on each side of the sprocket), pullingthe chain from the sprocket to the bottom of the chain loop will causethe sprocket to rotate 10 turns, but only result in ⅓ of the shademovement. In other words, a point on the chain would need to rotate 1.5laps to fully lower the 20 foot shade (also known as a continuous chainsince the chain needs to keep rotating through the bracket). Therefore,a point on the chain would need to rotate through the sprocket duringthe 1.5 rotations. As such, a bead stop cannot be used because the beadstop is bigger than the opening in the bracket and cannot enter thebracket to rotate around the sprocket.

A geared bracket may also include a planetary gear type system (orepicyclic gearing). A planetary gear system may include a central gear(sun gear) and one or more outer gears (planet gears) revolving aroundthe central gear. Existing brackets using a planetary system include thesun gear permanently mated to the sprocket, wherein a ring gear is usedas the sprocket. As such, when the chain is pulled, the sprocket rotatescausing the sun gear to rotate, which in turn rotates the shade tube ina 3:1 ratio (3 turns of the sprocket results in 1 turn of the shadetube). In other words, the input power is to the sun gear, and theoutput power is to the shade tube hub 280 (carrier).

However, such a planetary system is limited to a ratio that must belarger than 2:1. In particular, to obtain a lower ratio, the sun gearwould need to have a larger diameter (and be the same size as thesprocket) to the point where no planet gears would be able to fit aroundthe sun gear. As set forth above, because the ratio must be larger than2:1, the chain must rotate through the sprocket more than one lap. Assuch, a planetary gear type system, a bead stop cannot be used on thechain because, as mentioned above, the bead stop is bigger than theopening in the bracket and cannot enter the bracket to rotate around thesprocket.

Importantly, without a bead stop, after the shade is fully lowered, theconsumer could continue to unravel the shade off of the shade tube.Moreover, without a bead stop, after the shade is fully raised, theconsumer could continue to rotate the shade such that the hembar (on thebottom of the shade) gets pulled into the roller system. If the hembaris pulled into the roller, the shade can flip over the shade tube, theshade or tube may disengage, the shade may get damaged, the hembar mayget damaged or the hembar may not be able to be easily un-wound oreasily exit from the roller system. Systems have been created tominimize these problems caused by not having a bead stop such as, forexample, a device to restrict the number of rotations of the shade tube,or a hook that catches and stops the hembar before it enters the rollersystem. However, such systems include extra components and extra movingparts, which add weight, cost and failure points. As such, a need existsfor a bracket that includes a geared system, but still operates with achain having bead stops.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments, the geared window shade bracket comprises asprocket having a ring gear on an inside circumference of the sprocket;a chain configured to be engaged with the sprocket such that, inresponse to pulling on the chain, the sprocket rotates; a sun gear thatis configured to be restricted from rotation; one or more planet gearsconfigured to rotate around the sun gear, wherein the one or more planetgears interface with the ring gear; and a planetary carrier configuredto mate with the one or more planet gears. In response to the chainbeing pulled, the sprocket rotates, causing the planet gears to rotate,causing the planetary carrier to rotate, causing the hub to rotate, andcausing a shade tube to rotate.

The chain may be threaded around an outside circumference of thesprocket. The chain may include one or more bead stops located on thechain, wherein the bead stop is restricted from entering the inside of ahousing of the bracket. The sun gear may be configured to be restrictedfrom rotation due to the sun gear including an opening (e.g., hexagonal)that mates with a shaft. The bracket may also comprise a wrap springclutch and a hub that is configured to engage an end of a shade tube.The planetary carrier may be configured with a brake, wherein the brakeis configured to impact a tang on a clutch to open a wrap spring on theclutch which allows the clutch to rotate. The ring gear may beconfigured with ring gear threads on at least a portion of an insidecircumference of the ring gear. The one or more planet gears may includeplanet threads on an outside circumference of the one or more planetgears that interface with ring gear threads on at least a portion of aninside circumference of the ring gear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. Amore complete understanding of the present disclosure may be obtained byreferring to the detailed description and claims when considered inconnection with the drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote likeelements. Each of the various Figures and components may be inaccordance with various embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows a prior art chain and sprocket system, in accordance withvarious embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary exploded view of the geared bracket, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows a current chain and sprocket system, in accordance withvarious embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The features and elements discussed herein may be combined in variouscombinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated hereinotherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation of thedisclosed embodiments will become more apparent in light of thefollowing description and the accompanying figures. The detaileddescription of various embodiments herein refers to the accompanyingdrawings and pictures, which show various embodiments by way ofillustration. While these various embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice thedisclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may berealized and that logical and mechanical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, thedetailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustrationonly and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of themethod or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are notlimited to the order presented. Moreover, any of the functions or stepsmay be outsourced to or performed by one or more third parties.Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, andany reference to more than one component may include a singularembodiment.

As set forth in FIG. 2, in various embodiments, the bracket 200 mayinclude a chain 210, one or more bead stops 205, a sprocket 220, a sungear 230, one or more planet gears 240, a shaft 250, a planetary carrier260, a clutch 270 and a hub 280. The window shade system may includebrackets 200 mounted in a window pocket, overhead, ceiling mounted, jambmounted, a top-down mounting, sloped mounting, horizontal mounting andskylight mounting. As such, references to “down” and “up” would bechanged accordingly.

The bracket 200 may include one or more openings that allow the chain210 to enter and exit the bracket 200. The chain 210 may include one ormore bead stops 205. The bead stop is bigger than the other chainelements. The bead stop is also bigger than the opening in the bracket200 and cannot enter the bracket 200 to rotate around the sprocket 220.Therefore, the bead stop 205 prevents a user from pulling on the chain210 beyond the point where the chain 210 fully raises or fully lowersthe window shade 202. The bead stops 205 may be set in place at aspecific location along the chain 210 such that the bead stops 205create upper and lower limits for pulling the chain 210 and rotating theshade tube 290. Rotating the shade tube 290 raises or lowers the windowshade 202 such that the hembar 203 (that supports the bottom of theshade 202) is moved to the appropriate position. As mentioned, beadstops 205 have been used on window shade systems for decades, soconsumers are very familiar with bead stops 205, and consumers have cometo expect a bead stop 205 to control their use of the bracket chain 210.

The chain 210 may at least partially wrap around the sprocket 220. Thebeads of the chain 210 may rest within the holes within the sprocket220. As such, when the chain 210 is pulled, the beads of the chain 210impact the holes and cause the sprocket 220 to rotate. In variousembodiments, the sprocket 220 may also include a ring gear. The ringgear may be on the inside surface of the sprocket 220. The ring gear mayinclude a threaded surface on at least a portion of the innercircumference of the ring gear.

The clutch 270 may be configured to be located between the planetarycarrier 260 and the hub 280. The clutch 270 may include a wrappedspring. The wrapped spring may include tangs 275 on the ends of thewrapped spring. Upon rotation of the sprocket, and thus the planetarycarrier 260, the brake 265 on the planetary carrier 260 may impact thetangs 275. In response to impacting the brake 265, the tang 275 causesthe wrapped spring to expand which allows the clutch 270 to rotate androtate the hub 280. More details about the wrap spring may be found inU.S. Pat. No. 6,164,428 issued on Dec. 26, 2000 entitled “Wrap SpringShade Operator,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety for all purposes.

A first side of the hub 280 may be configured to engage with the wrapspring. A second side of the hub 280 may be configured to engage withthe shade tube 290. The second side of the hub 280 may include anyconfiguration and any interface elements in order to mate with asimilarly (or inversely) configured tube 290 end.

As also set forth in FIG. 2, in various embodiments, the bracket 200 mayinclude a planetary gear system having a sun gear 230 and one or moreplanet gears 240 revolving around the sun gear 230. The sun gear 230 maybe configured to be located around the shaft 250. The sun gear 230 maybe configured to be located between the shaft 250 and the one or moreplanet gears 240. In various embodiments, the sun gear 230 may alsoinclude a protruding ring, wherein the planetary carrier 260 rotatesaround the protruding ring of the sun gear 230.

In various embodiments, the sun gear 230 may be configured to bestationary and the planet gears 240 may be configured to move about thesun gear 230. In various embodiments, the sun gear 230 may be restrictedfrom movement using any device or component that impedes the rotation ofthe sun gear 230. For example, the sun gear 230 may include a hexagonalopening in the center of the sun gear 230. The sun gear 230 hexagonalopening may mate with the hexagonal shaft 250 such that the sun gear 230is restricted from rotating. The sun gear 230 may include a threadedsurface on at least a portion of the outer circumference of the sun gear230.

In various embodiments, the bracket 200 also includes a planetarycarrier 260. The one or more planet gears 240 may be mounted to theplanetary carrier 260. The planet gear 240 may include a threadedsurface on at least a portion of the outer circumference of the planetgear 240. The planet gears 240 may be between the sun gear 230 and thesprocket 220. The planet gear 240 threaded outer surface may interfacewith the threaded inside circumference surface of the ring gear on theinside circumference of sprocket 220. The planet gear 240 threaded outersurface may also interface with the outside circumference of the sungear 230.

Mating the planet gears 240 to the planetary carrier 260 causes aplanetary grouping that rotates together. As such, when the chain 210 ispulled, the sprocket 220 rotates causing the planet gears 240 to rotatearound the stationary sun gear 230, which in turn rotates the planetarycarrier 260. The planetary carrier 260 then rotates the hub 280 for theshade tube 290, which in turn, rotates the shade tube 290. In otherwords, the input power is to the ring gear/sprocket 220, and the outputpower is to the hub 280. In this arrangement, the system includes aratio of less than 2:1 (less than 2 turns of the sprocket 220 results in1 turn of the shade tube 290). In various embodiments, the ratio may be1.6:1 or 1.7:1.

Because the ratio must be less than 2:1, more of the length of chain 210goes through the sprocket 220. In particular, depending on the locationof the bead stop, a point on the chain 210 immediately below thesprocket 220 (point A on FIG. 3) may rotate down and through the bottomloop of the chain 210, then back up to the other side of the sprocket220 (point B on FIG. 3). As such, the consumer is able to pull on thechain 210 less times (than prior art geared brackets) to fully raise orto fully lower the window shade 202. If a non-geared bracket 200 usesabout 20 feet of chain 210 to fully raise and fully lower a 10 footshade 202, then the current bracket 200 uses only about 14 feet of chain210. Moreover, in the current system, less force is required to pull onthe chain 210. In particular, for a 1.7:1 ratio, 1.7 times less force isneeded.

Because the ratio must be less than 2:1, the chain 210 rotates throughthe sprocket 220 less than one lap in order to fully lower shade 202(also known as a discontinuous chain 210). As such, a bead stop 205A canbe used on the chain 210. If the chain includes only one bead stop 205A,the bead stop 205A may also travel from a point on the chain 210immediately below the sprocket 220 (point A on FIG. 3), then may rotatedown and through the bottom loop of the chain 210, then back up to theother side of the sprocket 220 (point B on FIG. 3). If two bead stopsare included on the chain, the two bead stops may be positioned close toeach other on the chain to achieve the maximum ratio. For example, lowerbead stop 205A and upper bead stop 205B on each side of the beadconnector 207. However, the upper bead stop may be positioned furtherfrom the lower bead stop 205A (e.g., at alternative location 205C), ifdifferent ratios are desired. As mentioned above, bead stops 205 havebeen used on window shade systems for decades, so consumers are veryfamiliar with bead stops 205. As such, window shade system manufacturerswant to include the bead stops 205 on the systems to give the consumerthe same experience as in the past.

The bracket 200 may interface with an environmental monitoring systemand/or window shade adjustment system such as the SolarTrac® systemmanufactured by MechoShade Systems, Inc. of Long Island City, N.Y. TheSolarTrac® system is further described in U.S. Ser. No. 14/692,868,filed Apr. 22, 2015 and entitled “Automated Shade Control SystemInteraction with Building Management System,” which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

In various embodiments, the brackets 200 may support any size diameterof shade tube 290. For example, using a ring gear driven planetarysystem, bracket 200 allows the use of bead stops while using smallertubes (e.g., tubes less than 1.8 inches with a window shade 202 of about6 feet in length). Brackets 200 also allow for the ability to “recycle”the unused chain (because more of the entire length of the chain isgoing through the sprocket and not just half the chain as in non-gearedsystems), such that the bracket 200 may be applied to bigger tubes.Prior art planetary system brackets that drive via the sun gear and thathave larger tubes may enable greater ratios while still having beadstops. For example, with a 2.5 inch tube, a ratio of up to about 3:1 ispossible. However, in the prior art planetary gear system, a ratio of5:1 is possible, but such a system would not allow the use of a beadstop because the chain would need to travel over 1 lap.

In contrast, in the current system, the ability to have a gear ratiobelow 2:1 allows the use of a bead stop. A gear ratio below 2:1 allowsshorter window shades and/or window shades with a smaller shade tube(e.g., less than 1.79 inches) to use all or most of the chain. As awindow shade gets taller and/or uses a larger shade tube, greater ratiosbecome a possibility.

In various embodiments, the maximum gear ratio that can be used can bedetermined based off of calculating the unused length of chain in achain loop. For shades with larger tubes (e.g., greater than 1.79inches), more chain may exist, so a longer length of chain would beavailable for 1 lap of the chain loop through the sprocket 220 (i.e.,more of the chain is recycled). In such an example, the ratio may be2.5:1 or greater. Moreover, this example system may be driven by the sungear. In other words, because of the larger ratio, the sun gear wouldnot be stationary, and instead, the sun gear 230 would drive the hub 280for the shade tube 290. In this manner, the system allows the choice ofthe best ratio utilizing the unused chain loop, while still enabling theuse of bead stops 205, regardless of whether the hub 280 is driven viathe ring gear or the sun gear 230.

In particular, in a roller blind, the upper most position corresponds toa position where the hembar is located at or near the bottom of thebracket. The lower most position corresponds to a position where thehembar is at or near the window sill. For a certain shade tube diameterwith a certain number of wraps of the window shade on the shade tube 290and a certain shade height, the travel distance of the window shadecorresponds to a certain number of turns (T) of the shade tube 290.

Because the shade tube 290 and sprocket 220 in a non-geared system arein lock step, the number of turns of the shade tube 290 will include anequal number of turns of the sprocket 220. The linear amount of chainused would be the amount of chain per turn (determined by the pitchdiameter (Pd) of the sprocket 220 multiplied by π) multiplied by thenumber of turns (T), namely T*Pd*π. The minimum amount of chain (Cm)used in a bracket system would correspond to the distance between theupper bead stop and lower bead stop (Dbs) plus the distance that isnormally inside the bracket (Db) plus the distance used by the beadconnector (Bc). This minimum length of chain is calculated by Dbs+Db+Bc.However, with this arrangement, the bottom of the chain loop willusually end up a significant distance (X) from the window sill. In orderto bring the bottom of the chain loop closer to the bottom of the windowsill for ease of use, extra chain is provided. This extra chain length(Cx) is never used.

In a typical shade system, the total amount of chain (Ct) is equal toCm+Cx, wherein Cm is the total amount of chain required to bring theshade throughout its full range. For example, if a shade system requires60″ of chain travel but the total length of available chain is 90″, thesystem can operate on a (90/60):1 or 1.5:1 ratio and still use beadstops.

The window shade system may or may not include fascia. The top flangemay be any size. For example, the top flange may be a wide top flangefor better access to the mounting hardware around the shade tube 290.The mounting flange may also include slots for easy adjustment inprojection and width. The window shade system may support any motor or amanual adjustment mechanism. For example, a round-head motor (e.g., upto 25 Nm) or a star-head motor (e.g., up to 50 Nm). The system may alsoinclude a cotter pin placed in front of the motor compartment, torestrict the motor from sliding out of the motor compartment orvibrating itself outside of the motor compartment. The window shadesystem may include removable ears for pocket mounting.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure isaccordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, inwhich reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean“one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one ormore.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to ‘at least one of A, B, and C’or ‘at least one of A, B, or C’ is used in the claims or specification,it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone maybe present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, Calone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of theelements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example,A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Although the disclosureincludes a method, it is contemplated that it may be embodied ascomputer program instructions on a tangible computer-readable carrier,such as a magnetic or optical memory or a magnetic or optical disk. Allstructural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of theabove-described various embodiments that are known to those of ordinaryskill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and areintended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is notnecessary for a device or method to address each and every problemsought to be solved by the present disclosure, for it to be encompassedby the present claims.

Any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may includepermanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possibleattachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (orsimilar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact.Different cross-hatching is used throughout the figures to denotedifferent parts but not necessarily to denote the same or differentmaterials. Surface shading lines may be used throughout the figures todenote different parts or areas but not necessarily to denote the sameor different materials. In some cases, reference coordinates may bespecific to each figure.

The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothingother than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly sostated, but rather “one or more.” It is to be understood that unlessspecifically stated otherwise, references to “a,” “an,” and/or “the” mayinclude one or more than one and that reference to an item in thesingular may also include the item in the plural. All ranges and ratiolimits disclosed herein may be combined.

Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the presentdisclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless ofwhether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited inthe claims. No claim element is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f)unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” Asused herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variationthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elementsdoes not include only those elements but may include other elements notexpressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, orapparatus.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detaileddescription herein, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”,“various embodiments”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described mayinclude a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but everyembodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature,structure, or characteristic is described in connection with anembodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of oneskilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristicin connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitlydescribed. After reading the description, it will be apparent to oneskilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure inalternative embodiments.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A geared window shade bracket comprising: achain configured to be engaged with a sprocket such that, in response topulling on the chain, the sprocket rotates; a first bead stop located onthe chain; a sun gear that is configured to be restricted from rotation;one or more planet gears configured to rotate around the sun gear; andthe one or more planet gears also configured to rotate a shade tube,wherein less than 2 rotations of the sprocket results in 1 rotation ofthe shade tube.
 2. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the chain is threadedaround an outside circumference of the sprocket.
 3. The bracket of claim1, further comprising a second bead stop located on the chain.
 4. Thebracket of claim 1, wherein the bead stop is restricted from enteringthe inside of a housing of the bracket.
 5. The bracket of claim 1,wherein the sun gear is configured to be restricted from rotation due tothe sun gear including an opening that mates with a shaft.
 6. Thebracket of claim 1, wherein the sun gear is configured to be restrictedfrom rotation due to the sun gear including a hexagonal opening thatmates with a hexagonal shaft.
 7. The bracket of claim 1, furthercomprising a clutch and a hub.
 8. The bracket of claim 1, furthercomprising a wrap spring clutch.
 9. The bracket of claim 1, furthercomprising a hub that is configured to engage an end of the shade tube.10. The bracket of claim 1, wherein a ring gear on an insidecircumference of the sprocket is configured with ring gear threads on atleast a portion of an inside circumference of the ring gear.
 11. Thebracket of claim 10, wherein the one or more planet gears include planetthreads on an outside circumference of the one or more planet gears thatinterface with the ring gear threads on at least a portion of the insidecircumference of the ring gear.
 12. The bracket of claim 1, wherein inresponse to the chain being pulled, the sprocket rotates, causing theplanet gears to rotate and causing the shade tube to rotate.
 13. Thebracket of claim 1, further comprising the sprocket having a ring gearon an inside circumference of the sprocket, wherein the one or moreplanet gears interface with the ring gear.
 14. The bracket of claim 1,further comprising a planetary carrier configured to mate with the oneor more planet gears and the planetary carrier is also configured torotate the shade tube.
 15. The bracket of claim 14, wherein theplanetary carrier is configured with a brake, wherein the brake isconfigured to impact a tang on a clutch to open a wrap spring on theclutch which allows the clutch to rotate.
 16. The bracket of claim 14,wherein in response to the chain being pulled, the sprocket rotates,causing the planet gears to rotate, causing the planetary carrier torotate, causing a hub to rotate, and causing the shade tube to rotate.17. A method comprising determining a maximum gear ratio based on alength of chain in a chain loop and a diameter of a shade tube, wherein,in response to pulling the chain, a sprocket rotates, causing rotationof planet gears around a stationary sun gear, and causing rotation ofthe shade tube, wherein the maximum gear ratio allows inclusion of abead stop on the chain loop, wherein the maximum gear ratio includesless than 2 rotations of the sprocket resulting in 1 rotation of theshade tube, and wherein the length of chain with the bead stop allowsfor fully lowering from the shade tube and fully raising a window shadearound the shade tube.
 18. A method comprising pulling a chain having abead stop causing less than 2 rotations of a sprocket and resulting in 1rotation of a shade tube, wherein, in response to the pulling the chain,the sprocket rotates, causing rotation of planet gears around astationary sun gear, and causing rotation of the shade tube.